Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has hailed the passing of Northern Ireland’s first Sign Language Bill as a "historic" milestone for the Deaf and deafblind signing communities. The landmark legislation formally recognises British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) as languages in their own right, bringing Northern Ireland into alignment with international human rights standards.

The new law introduces statutory duties for Executive departments and listed public bodies to promote and facilitate the use of BSL and ISL. These organisations will now be required to improve accessibility to their services and information, ensuring greater inclusion for sign language users in everyday life.

Minister Lyons commented: "Today I join with the Deaf and deafblind signing community in celebrating the passing of sign language rights into law. For all of us, this is a day that truly merits being described as historic. It has been a privilege for me to lead on this ground-breaking work for the Executive, working in lock-step with the community." He added that while Deaf people have built rich cultural and linguistic histories, they have frequently faced exclusion. "This new law sends a clear signal that Deaf people and sign language users are valued members of our society," he said.

Representatives from advocacy groups welcomed the development. Rebecca Mansell, CEO of the British Deaf Association, noted that while the recognition is powerful, the "hard work starts here" regarding early access for children and expanding public information. Julie Graham, Director of Action Deaf Youth, and George Crockford, CEO of the National Deaf Children’s Society, both expressed optimism that the law will enable Deaf children and their families to lead more inclusive lives.

The impact on families was highlighted by Natalia Buchanan, whose 12-year-old son Alexander is Deaf. She noted that access to classes has historically been difficult and expensive. Alexander added: "BSL is part of who I am, so this Bill gives me real hope. I hope it leads to a future where we don't have to fight for access, where more people can communicate with us, and where sign language is available for all."

The Bill will now proceed to receive Royal Assent. Following this, the government will focus on implementation, including the development of Statutory Guidance and continued engagement with the Deaf community to help public bodies meet their new legal responsibilities.